In Japan, just as in the United States, Google Pixels gained interesting market shares in the second quarter, while Apple lost points in quantity. Two markets where the Apple firm outrageously dominates the debates.
Google is now pulling out all the stops to sell its Pixel range as best as possible. The latter is coherent, technically interesting and above all, it is positioned on strategic price brackets. This whole equation has allowed the Californian group to grab market share… where Apple is firmly established.
Nice increase in Japan
This is particularly the case in Japan, where iPhones have reigned supreme for several years now. In the second quarter of 2023, Google Pixel market share saw a year-over-year jump: 12% in total, compared to 2% previously. That’s a gain of 10 points, when Apple fell from 58 to 46%. Nothing dramatic either, but the drop is real.
According to Counterpoint Research – via Bloomberg -, one of the causes of this phenomenon would be linked to the value of the yen, whose financial decline forced Apple to increase its prices in Japan. On the other hand, the Pixel 6a and 7a would have enjoyed considerable success, in particular thanks to their affordable price. The mid-range segment smiles on Google.
Pixels are resisting
To a lesser extent, the same trajectory is observed in the United States, according to data from Canalys. In the second quarter of 2023, Apple’s sales fell by 20%, compared to 27% for Samung, 25% for Motorola and even 30% for TCL. All manufacturers are paying the price of a delicate situation where smartphone sales fell by 22% over the said period.
All ? No. A diehard manufacturer named Google is holding its own with growth of 59%. We should not get too excited either, since the American giant was starting from afar: it has in fact shipped 1.2 million Pixels, compared to 800,000 in the second quarter of 2022. The figures are modest, but still symbolic.